The issue of disposal of radioactive waste was still a major hurdle to overcome, he said.

Senator Canavan said he was the minister responsible for trying to find a home for low and intermediate-level radioactive waste from the sole nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights in Sydney's south-west that is used for the production of nuclear medicine.

"We've been trying to find a home for 40 years for that waste. It's difficult because of the concerns about managing that waste. I completely understand that," he said before a speech to the Queensland Resources Media Club in Brisbane.

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"Obviously, if we can't find a long-term solution for that level of waste it's pretty hard to fathom that we could go beyond that for the production of nuclear energy that does produce a larger amount and more waste of a higher category to manage."

Nuclear waste is now stored at about 100 sites including at Lucas Heights, with the federal government trying to find a central waste facility, short-listing three sites in South Australia.

Nuclear power is banned in Australia but a parliamentary inquiry is exploring whether it could help solve problems caused by the exit of coal-fired power and the influx of cheap but less reliable renewable energy.

But Senator Canavan said despite the inquiry and the support of some prominent conservative politicians, he had reservations about the price of nuclear power.

"No one is going to make predictions about what happens in 20, 30 or 40 years' time. All I want to see is a system which allows the most affordable and sustainable energy solutions coming forward," he said.

"I have previously expressed that it's relatively expensive and, obviously, we do have a task at hand domestically at the moment to get down our high power prices.

"We're not afraid of the discussions or conversations and we have rightly said any change would have to be bipartisan, which is unlikely right now."

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Talking up coal

Senator Canavan talked up the prospects of coal exports, especially to India where coal makes up 75 per cent of the country's electricity generation.

While coal will drop to just under half of the country's electricity generation by 2040, India will still need an extra 700 million tonnes of coal every year compared with present needs, according to Senator Canavan. Thermal coal exports are now 400 million tonnes a year.

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the new Media Club was to counter anti-fossil fuel activists and "straighten up a little bit of the news on the resources industry".

"This is the idea the resources sector won't be here in 10 years' time which is being taught in some schools in Brisbane," he said.

"Those of us with more experience, see a fantastic future for the resources industry."

Senator Canavan took aim at anti-fossil fuel activists who have been active in Brisbane recently blocking peak-hour traffic, conceding the industry needed to do a better job of selling its message.

"Those protesting on our streets want to stop Indians from enjoying what we take for granted without themselves making any sacrifices," he said.

"All that these protesters can hope for is that they will shut down Australian coal mines, forcing India to buy coal from other countries."

The development of alternative supplies of critical minerals, as well as other joint efforts by Australia and the United States to address Chinese influence in the region, will dominate talks in Washington.